Pedersoli fail!

[Marinekayak]

So i had worked up a load the grouped well for hunting and went to do a final zero today. My load is 80gr 2f .535 with .010 patch and TOW mink oil lube. Filed front sight to where elevation was good and went to tap the rear sight, lightly, for a minor windage change and the rear sight went flying. The dove tail was way to loose. Then i noticed that my front sight had also worked loose when I was filing. Two loose dovetails on one rifle. The only good think was i got to shoot about 40 shots with no wiping and good results. Finally the rifle just had enough and got very hard to load. I peened the dovetails when I got home but I am very dissappointed.

 

[Britsmoothy]

Welcome to the modern world ☹

 

[Enfield58]

I've had that problem before. Take a brass punch that is fairly wide. Without the sights in place, tape the edges of the dovetail down to the point that when you try to re-insert the sight that resistance is felt.

The resistance has to be substantial enough that finger pressure alone will not get the sight back in the dovetail. You will need to tap it back in place with the brass punch.

If done correctly, this should hold the sight in place in the dovetail.

Hope that helps.

 

[Griz44Mag]

It also does not hurt to put a drop of locktite in them. Metal will get jarred and things will get loose.
It's all part of mechanical munchkins that plague everything that man makes..... The head munchkin is named Murphy.....

 

[SDSmlf]

You can peen the dovetail in the barrel with 3/4” to 1” socket. Lay the socket across the dovetail and then lightly tap the socket with a hammer to tighten up the dovetail.

 

[Marinekayak]

Thanks all. I did peen and used a little locktite. Hopefull this fixes it.

 

[Ames]

I cheated once in the field. Put a small slip of aluminum foil in the dovetail for a shim. Tapped the rear site into position. It worked, and remains that way today.

 

[Griz44Mag]

I cheated once in the field. Put a small slip of aluminum foil in the dovetail for a shim. Tapped the rear site into position. It worked, and remains that way today.

Actually, that's what they would have done back in the old days.
Assess the situation, look for a logical remedy and act on it.

 

[hanshi]

That's a frustration not uncommon to muzzleloaders. The fix is easy, the language can be blue and it's happened with a rifle or two of mine.

 

[griffiga]

I cheated once in the field. Put a small slip of aluminum foil in the dovetail for a shim. Tapped the rear site into position. It worked, and remains that way today.

I've done the same thing only with a tiny strip off an aluminum coke can. I fixed a similar sight on a modern rifle by placing some tape over the dovetail then laying a large nail across the opening that will span it, then tap it with a hammer to slightly bend the thin tops of the dovetail down. You have to be careful not to wail on it like Thor or you won't get the sight back in.

 

[Grimord]

Another method is to use a prick punch in the dovetail slot itself to raise some metal so that the sight will fit tighter.

 

[Sidney Smith]

I had this problem with one of the docetails I cut on my new build. I used a brass punch as mentioned above and rran it all along the dovetail tops and it tightened right up.

 

[Spikebuck]

That's a frustration not uncommon to muzzleloaders. The fix is easy...

I agree, Hanshi. I don't look at this as a "fail" of a product. It's just normal that when adjusting sights during the sight-in, the dovetail can loosen up a bit. If they are too tight, you can't effectively move the sight while working on getting the sights set. I put this one in the "normal happening" bucket.

 

[toot]

It also does not hurt to put a drop of locktite in them. Metal will get jarred and things will get loose.
It's all part of mechanical munchkins that plague everything that man makes..... The head munchkin is named Murphy.....

use RED not BLUE grade.

 

[Marinekayak]

Agree with all of the posts. Overall I really like this rifle. And it shot a good 40 shots before it got to dirty to load. I went through one flint and started a second. I think the only thing holding the rear sight was the epoxy finish on the barrel. The front sight could have been worked loose by the amount of filing I did. Also when loading and a little dirty there seemed to be one spot of real resistance about a 1/4 of the way down the barrel from the muzzle. Then smooth down after that. Is that normal?

 

[Smokey Plainsman]

Agree with all of the posts. Overall I really like this rifle. And it shot a good 40 shots before it got to dirty to load. I went through one flint and started a second. I think the only thing holding the rear sight was the epoxy finish on the barrel. The front sight could have been worked loose by the amount of filing I did. Also when loading and a little dirty there seemed to be one spot of real resistance about a 1/4 of the way down the barrel from the muzzle. Then smooth down after that. Is that normal?

Could be a tight spot in the barrel. If the gun shoots well don't let it bother you.

 

[Cpt Flint]

What is an epoxy finish on the barrel?
Cpt Flint here

 

[Marinekayak]

Mine is the cabelas blue ridge so instead of browning it’s got a Matte black finish. Seems sprayed on but very nice and even. It’s very durable and is probably cerakote or something similar. The only blemish is where my file slipped when I was filing the front sight. I thinks a good choice for a hunting or for a gun meant to be shot a lot. It wipes clean very easy after shooting. Even around the touch hole residue just slips off.

 

[Cpt Flint]

Is that type finish common on store bought rifles? I've never had such a thing. I tend to build mine in a more
tradional manner. Flint of course!

 

[Griz44Mag]

All of the Blue Ridge guns I have seen have been rust blued.. (Hence BLUE RIDGE)
How about a picture?
I have the Frontier (Pedersoli label) which is the same gun but with a browned finish.